Monday, June 02, 2008

Heads or Tails: The Legend of Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne, wife of James I of England, was an avid lace maker, and is the namesake of the flower. The tiny purple dot in the center represents a spot of blood caused by a needle prick to the queen’s finger, and this tiny sliver of color was thought to cure epilepsy. Black swallowtail butterflies flock to them like cats to catnip. Farmers consider it an invasive weed, and the milk from animals that graze upon it is supposed to taste a bit bitter and carroty. The plant is also called bee’s nest, bird’s nest, crow’s nest, and devil’s plague (seems a bit harsh!). The carrots that we eat today are believed to be derived from this wild variety, and to revert to it when not tended or cultivated. Queen Anne’s Lace roots have also been used as a coffee substitute, like chicory.

The are numerous legends about how this plant became associated with and was named after Queen Anne, wife of King James I of England.

Devil's plague was a common name given by farmers who found this weed difficult to control; rantipole means rude and reckless.

It is not known if there are benefits associated with having a purple flower located in the center of some flower clusters. A study showed that insects were neither attracted nor repelled by the presence or absence of the flower.

The first year roots of wild carrot are reported to be edible, but care must be taken to not mistake poison hemlock for wild carrot.

Queen Anne's Lace is just beginning to grow here but will not flower for quite awhile. I call it the "fractal flower." And making one of these fractals is on my todo list.

I've eaten them. They are biennial and taste like strong carrots the first ear but get woody and inedible the second year. I have a picture if I can find it I will post it for you. If I do, I will says so.